Cleated Shoe Cover with Internal Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cleats or spikes on sports shoes can be damaged by abrasive surfaces and can damage delicate floor surfaces, and users often forget to bring alternative shoes or fail to remove them after use, leading to excessive wear or floor damage.
Innovation Solution
A shoe cover made of flexible and durable materials like plastic or rubber, with internal support members and traction patterns, designed to protect cleats and prevent damage to both shoe soles and floor surfaces, featuring adjustable designs for easy use and compatibility with various shoe sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If cleats are made of hard plastic to provide traction, then traction performance is improved, but the cleats become more susceptible to damage from abrasive surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a shoe cover as an intermediary protective layer between the cleats and abrasive surfaces. The cover is made of durable material that resists abrasion while allowing the cleats to maintain their traction function, thus protecting the cleats from direct contact with harmful surfaces without compromising their performance
2Strength
If players wear cleated shoes on hard surfaces, then traction is provided, but the floor surfaces become damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The shoe cover serves as a mediator between the cleated shoe and the floor surface. It provides a protective interface that prevents the cleats from directly contacting and damaging floor surfaces while still allowing the wearer to benefit from the traction provided by the cleats during sports activities
3Reliability
If players bring separate cleatless shoes, then cleat protection is achieved, but convenience and ease of use are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The protective function is extracted from the separate cleatless shoe and applied directly to the cleated shoe through the shoe cover. This eliminates the need to carry and switch between two different shoe types, maintaining the convenience of wearing cleated shoes while providing the necessary protection
Solution Approach 2:
The shoe cover provides multiple functions simultaneously: it protects the cleats from damage, prevents floor surface damage, and maintains the traction capability of the cleated shoes. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate protective shoes, improving convenience
Data Source
AI summary
A cover for cleated shoes. The shoe cover has a ball area, a heel area, and a mid-foot area between the ball area and the heel area. At least the mid-foot area is formed of stretchable material and is thinner than the material forming the ball area and heel of the sole. An internal support member is located internally in the ball area and/or heel area of the sole. An upper portion extends upward from the sole portion and defines a toe cup and a heel cup, with the upper portion being formed of stretchable material in at least the mid-foot area, and which has an opening formed therein to allow shoe and/or foot access to the shoe cover.